Michigan Woman Sues BetMGM Grand After $127K Jackpot Denied Over Claims of "Trespassing"

Imagine this - you're at your favorite casino playing your favorite game as you have dozens of times before, only this time it's different because you just won a $127,000 jackpot.

The adrenaline pumping, you celebrate with the other patrons around you and start thinking of all the ways to spend your sudden influx of cash when suddenly you're being escorted out of the casino, with no prize.

That's what happened to Denise Ezell at the MGM Grand in Detroit, MI last year.

$127,000 Jackpot Denied

Ezell, a long-time patron of Detroit's MGM Grand, was left in shock and disbelief when the casino refused to pay her a $127,000 jackpot she won on October 30, 2023. The story came to head when Ezell, who has been gambling at the MGM Grand for over two decades, filed a lawsuit on Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, seeking not only the jackpot but also an additional $75,000 in damages.

The unexpected turn of events began when Ezell, playing at a progressive blackjack table, was jubilantly announced as the jackpot winner by the dealer. However, her excitement was swiftly crushed when a pit boss informed her that she would not be receiving the money due to her being considered a trespasser at the casino.

RELATED: Woman Wins $43M Jackpot, Casino Claims 'Malfunction'

Casino Claims "Trespassing"

This declaration was linked to a previous incident in 2015 when Ezell was accused of panhandling following an argument with her cousin at the casino. Despite this incident, Ezell claimed she had never been officially informed of any ban and had continued to frequent the casino without issue for the past nine years, completely unaware of the supposed ban.

Ezell’s lawsuit details how she sought clarification from, a member of the casino's security team, Greg Jones, who initially reassured her that the trespassing claim would not impede her jackpot payout. Jones conveyed that the matter had been escalated beyond his authority, promising a resolution. However, despite these assurances, the casino ultimately failed to deliver on the promise, leading to Ezell's legal action.

The shock of being denied her winnings was compounded by the perceived betrayal of trust. Ezell's lawsuit highlights the significant reliance she placed on the casino employees' assurances, stating that MGM Grand's failure to honor their promises caused her substantial harm and injury.

Ezell's plight raises critical questions about the transparency and fairness of casino policies, particularly regarding long-term patrons. Remember this Dimers story about the woman who won a $43 Million jackpot, only for the casino to claim a "machine malfunction" and offer her a steak dinner instead?

The Lesson: Trusting Data Over Chance

While table games and slot machines can be fun, they leave everything to chance. Sports betting is no guarantee either, but we can use data and reliable numbers to make informed betting decisions, not leaving our massive jackpots up to the goodwill of a casino.

That's what we do at Dimers - leverage our cutting-edge analytics and betting tools to find an edge against the sportsbooks. We've been taking the books to task with our home run bets, WNBA Player Props, advanced golf predictions, and much more, all of which can be yours for less than $1/day.

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